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Toronto coach Sam Mitchell believes that the Detroit Pistons, who arrive at the Air Canada Centre this evening to face the Raptors, are a team on a mission this season.

The Boston Celtics have received the most attention by acquiring two superstars, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, to play along side Paul Pierce. Add the fact that Boston sports the best record in the NBA (27-3), and the Celtics have become the talk of the NBA. However, the Pistons have made a lot of noise of their own. They hold the second-best record in the association (25-7), have won 10 in a row.

"I'm sure that has something to do with it," Mitchell said when asked if he believes the Pistons are out to prove that they, not the Celtics, are still the Beasts of the East. "But those guys are all professionals. They play well, they play hard, they understand the game ... they're just good. I don't know what else you can say.

"They've played together for a long time. They know each other, they're smart and they're playing as well as anyone. And they've beaten Boston on their court and they're the only team to do that. They're just tough. They have no weaknesses."

Raptors forward Chris Bosh said while the Pistons may have flown under the radar of most fans this season, their play certainly gained his attention.

"(Maybe) they can make that case (that they have flown under the radar), but in my opinion they're not under the radar at all," Bosh said. "You can make an argument for them being the best team in the East right now. I've always paid attention to them ever since the season started."

Tonight marks the first time the Pistons have faced the Raptors this season and the first time Carlos Delfino, who played in Detroit the past three seasons before being traded to Toronto, has faced his old club.